Substituted 4-phenyl pyridines having anti-emetic effect

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases which are pathophysiologically mediated by the neurokinin (NK 1 ) receptor. The compounds have the general formula (I):

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application61/564,537, filed Nov. 29, 2011.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to novel 4-phenyl-pyridine compounds, andmedical uses thereof, particularly in the prevention and/or treatment ofmedical conditions modulated by the neurokinin (NK₁) receptor.

2. Description of Related Art

Substance P is an 11-amino acid neuropeptide present reportedly involvedin various pathological conditions including asthma, inflammation, pain,psoriasis, migraine, dyskinesia, cystitis, schizophrenia, emesis andanxiety, due to its localizations and functions. Substance P is anagonist for the NK1 receptor, and causes intracellular signaltransduction through its interaction with the NK1 receptor.

The NK1 receptor has been reported to be implicated in various disordersand diseases, and various NK₁ antagonists have been developed for thepurpose of treating or preventing such disorders and diseases. Forexample, Kramer et al. (Science 281 (5383), 1640-1645, 1988) reportsclinical trials for NK₁ receptor antagonists in the treatment ofanxiety, depression, psychosis, schizophrenia and emesis. Gesztesi etal. (Anesthesiology 93(4), 931-937, 2000) also reports the use of NK₁receptor antagonists in the treatment of emesis

U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,375 to Hoffmann-La Roche describes a class of4-phenyl-pyridine compounds that are NK₁ antagonists which are usefulfor treating CNS disorders, such as depression, anxiety or emesis.Netupitant is a selective NK₁ receptor antagonist among these4-phenyl-pyridine compounds, and is currently under clinical developmentin combination with palonosetron (a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist) for theprevention of chemotherapy-induced-nausea and vomiting (CINV) by HelsinnHealthcare.

Mono-N-Oxide derivatives of 4-phenyl-pyridine compounds are described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,747,026 to Hoffmann-La Roche. These N-Oxide derivativesare reportedly intended to overcome limitations on the parent compoundsthat would otherwise limit their clinical usefulness, such as solubilityor pharmacokinetic limitations. However, no physicochemical orbiological data of the mono-N-Oxide derivatives are reported in the '026patent.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,856 to the University of Kansas describes watersoluble N-phosphoryloxymethyl derivatives of secondary and tertiaryamines, and the use of such derivatives to improve the solubilityprofiles of loxapine and cinnarizine. The '856 patent does notdisclosure how the N-phosphoryloxymethyl moiety would affect othercritical attributes of the drug product, such as stability, localtolerance at the site of administration, bioavailability, metabolism ortoxicity.

In view of the above, there is a need to find new derivatives of4-phenyl-pyridine compounds that are effective NK₁ receptor antagonists,with enhanced physicochemical and/or biological properties.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, the inventors have developed a novel class of4-phenyl-pyridine derivatives particularly well-suited for antagonizingthe NK₁ receptor, having the following general formula (I):

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or adducts thereof.

Compounds of formula (I), also known as 4-phenyl-pyridine derivatives,are particularly useful for preventing and/or treating diseases that arepathophysiologically related to the NK₁ receptor in a subject.Accordingly, in another embodiment the invention provides a method oftreating a disease that is mediated by the NK₁ receptor, comprisingadministering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of acompound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or adductthereof.

Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and/ortreating diseases which are pathophysiologically related to NK₁ receptorin a subject, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of acompound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or adductthereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the present compounds, compositions, articles, devices, and/ormethods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that theyare not limited to specific synthetic methods or specific treatmentmethods unless otherwise specified, or to particular reagents unlessotherwise specified, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting.

Materials

A. Compounds

Disclosed are compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or adductsthereof represented by formula (I):

wherein:

R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy,hydroxyalkyl, amino, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, halogen, alkoxy,alkoxyalkyl, —OR¹⁰¹, —NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², —NR¹⁰¹C(O)R¹⁰², —C(O)R¹⁰¹, —C(O)OR¹⁰¹,—C(O)NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², -alkylNR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², —S(O)₂R¹⁰², —SR¹⁰¹, —S(O)₂NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰²,aryl, arylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl andheteroarylalkyl, each optionally independently substituted with one ormore independent R¹⁰³ substituents;

R₁ and R₂ are independently selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, amino, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl,halogen, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, —OR¹⁰¹, —NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², —NR¹⁰¹C(O)R¹⁰²,—C(O)R¹⁰¹, —C(O)OR¹⁰¹, —C(O)NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², -alkylNR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², —S(O)₂R¹⁰²,—S(O)₂R¹⁰², —SR¹⁰¹S(O)₂NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², arylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl,heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl and heteroarylalkyl, each optionallyindependently substituted with one or more independent R¹⁰³substituents; or R₁ together with the atoms and/or other substituent(s)on the same phenyl ring form a fused or non-fused mono, bicyclic ortricyclic heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring which is optionallyindependently substituted with one or more R¹⁰³ substituents; or R₂together with the atoms and/or other substituent(s) on the same phenylring form a fused or non-fused mono, bicyclic or tricyclic heterocyclicor carbocyclic ring which is optionally independently substituted withone or more R¹⁰³ substituents;

R₃ and R₄ are independently selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, amino, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl,halogen, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, —OR¹⁰¹, —NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², —NR¹⁰¹C(O)R¹⁰²,—C(O)OR¹⁰¹, —C(O)NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², -alkylNR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², —S(O)₂R¹⁰², —SR¹⁰¹,—S(O)₂NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², aryl, arylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl,heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl and heteroarylalkyl, each optionallyindependently substituted with one or more independent R¹⁰³substituents; or R₃ and R₄, together with the atoms connecting the sameform a fused or non-fused mono, bicyclic or tricyclic heterocyclic orcarbocyclic ring which is optionally independently substituted with oneor more R¹⁰³ substituents;

R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, amino, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl,halogen, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, —OR¹⁰¹, —NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², —NR¹⁰¹C(O)R¹⁰²,—C(O)OR¹⁰¹, —C(O)NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², -alkylNR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², —S(O)₂R¹⁰², —SR¹⁰¹,—S(O)₂NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², aryl, arylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, arylalkyl,heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl and heteroarylalkyl,each optionally independently substituted with one or more independentR¹⁰³ substituents;

X is selected from the group consisting of —C(O)NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², -alkylO,-alkylNR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², —NR¹⁰¹C(O) and —NR¹⁰¹alkyl, each optionallyindependently substituted with one or more independent R¹⁰³substituents;

Y is selected from the group consisting of —NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², —NR¹⁰¹alkylOH,—NR¹⁰¹S(O)₂alkyl, —NR¹⁰¹S(O)₂-phenyl, —N═CH—NR¹⁰¹R¹⁰², heterocycloalkyland heterocycloalkylalkyl, each optionally independently substitutedwith one or more independent R¹⁰³ substituents;

Z is a structural formula selected from the group consisting of

where formula (Ia) refers to an oxide;

R¹⁰⁰, R^(100″), R¹⁰¹, R¹⁰² and R¹⁰³ are each independently selected fromthe group consisting of hydrogen, cyano, —NO₂, —OR¹⁰⁴, oxide, hydroxy,amino, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, halogen, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, aryl,arylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl,heteroarylalkyl, —C(O)R¹⁰⁴, —C(O)NR¹⁰⁴R¹⁰⁵, —NR¹⁰⁴R¹⁰⁵, —NR¹⁰⁴S(O)₂R¹⁰⁵,—NR¹⁰⁴C(O)R¹⁰⁵, —S(O)₂R¹⁰⁴, —SR¹⁰⁴ and —S(O)₂NR¹⁰⁴R¹⁰⁵, each optionallyindependently substituted with one or more independent R¹⁰³substituents; or R¹⁰¹, R¹⁰², together with the atoms connecting thesame, form a fused or non-fused mono, bicyclic or tricyclic heterocyclicor carbocyclic ring which is optionally independently substituted withone or more R¹⁰³ substituents; or R¹⁰⁰, R^(100″), together with theatoms connecting the same, form a fused or non-fused mono, bicyclic ortricyclic heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring which is optionallyindependently substituted with one or more R¹⁰³ substituents;

R¹⁰⁴ and R¹⁰⁵ are each independently selected from the group consistingof hydrogen, cyano, —NO₂, hydroxy, oxide, hydroxyalkyl, amino, alkyl,alkenyl, cycloalkyl, halogen, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl,heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl and heteroarylalkyl;

m is from 0 to 4; n is from 0 to 5; p is from 0 to 1; and with a provisothat if a non-pyridine N-Oxide (N⁻→O⁺) is present on the compound ofFormula (I), then the total number of N-Oxide on the compound of Formula(I) is more than one. In another embodiment, the invention excludes allN-oxide forms.

In some forms, the compounds as presently disclosed are compounds offormula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or adducts thereof,wherein R, R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅ and R₆ are each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, amino, alkyl, alkenyl,cycloalkyl, halogen, cyano, —OR¹⁰¹ and CF₃.

In some other forms, the compounds as presently disclosed are compoundsof formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or adducts thereof,wherein X is —NR¹⁰¹C(O). In some other forms, the compounds as presentlydisclosed are compounds of formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptablesalts or adducts thereof, wherein Y is a heterocycloalkyl orheterocycloalkylalkyl. In some still other forms, the compounds aspresently disclosed are compounds of formula (I), or pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts or adducts thereof, wherein the compound of formula (I)has a structure of formula (II):

where Q and R are each independently selected from the group consistingof C, O, S, and N, each optionally independently substituted with one ormore independent R¹⁰³ substituents; R₇ is selected from the groupselected from hydrogen, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, —OR¹⁰¹, hydroxy,hydroxyalkyl, amino, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl and halogen, eachoptionally independently substituted with one or more independent R¹⁰³substituents; s is from 0 to 4; and all other variables are defined asfor formula (I).

In some forms, the compounds as presently disclosed are compounds offormula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or adducts thereof,wherein the compound of formula (I) has a structure of formula (III):

Where R₈ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,alkenyl and cycloalkyl, each optionally independently substituted withone or more independent R¹⁰³ substituents; R₉ is alkyl or cycloalkyl,each optionally substituted with one or more independent R¹⁰³substituents; and all other radicals are defined as for formula (I) andformula (II).

In some other forms, the compounds as presently disclosed are compoundsof formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or adducts thereof,wherein the compound of formula (I) has a structure of formula (IV):

where p is independently 0 or 1; and all other radicals are defined asfor formula (I), formula (II) and formula (III).

In some forms, the compounds as presently disclosed are compounds offormula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or adducts thereof,wherein the compound of formula (I) has a structure of formula (V):

where p is independently 0 or 1; and all other radicals are defined asfor formula (I), formula (II), formula (III) and formula (IV).

In some other forms, the compounds as presently disclosed are compoundsof formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or adducts thereof,wherein the compound of formula (I) has a structure of formula (VI):

where R₂₀₀ and R₃₀₀ are each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, alkyl and cycloalkyl, each optionallyindependently substituted with one or more independent R¹⁰³substituents; or R₂₀₀ and R₃₀₀ are each independently an organic orinorganic cation; p is independently 0 or 1; and all other radicals aredefined according to formula (I), formula (II), formula (III), formula(IV) and formula (V).

In some forms, the compounds as presently disclosed are compounds offormula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or adducts thereof,wherein the compound of formula (I) is a compound selected from thegroup consisting of:

GA1

4-(5-(2-(3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-4-(o- tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methyl-1-((phosphonooxy)methyl)piperazin-1- ium, GA2

1-(acetoxymethyl)-4 -(5-(2-(3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-4-(o- tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methylpiperazin- 1-ium,GA3

4-(5-(2-(3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-4-(o- tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-((butyryloxy)methyl)-1- methylpiperazin-1-ium, GA4

1-(5-(2-(3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-4-(o- tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-4-methylpiperazine1,4-dioxide, GA5

1-(5-(2-(3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-1-oxido-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-4-methylpiperazine 1-oxide, GA6

4-(5-(2-(3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-1-oxido-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methylpiperazine 1-oxide, GA7

5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)- N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(o- tolyl)pyridine 1-oxide, and GA8

4-(5-(2-(3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-4-(o- tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methylpiperazine1-oxide.

1. Salts

The disclosed compositions and compounds can be used in the form ofsalts derived from inorganic or organic acids. Depending on theparticular compound, a salt of the compound can be advantageous due toone or more of the salt's physical properties, such as enhancedpharmaceutical stability in differing temperatures and humidities, or adesirable solubility in water or oil. In some instances, a salt of acompound also can be used as an aid in the isolation, purification,and/or resolution of the compound.

Where a salt is intended to be administered to a patient (as opposed to,for example, being used in an in vitro context), the salt preferably ispharmaceutically acceptable. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt”refers to a salt prepared by combining a compound, such as the disclosedcompounds, with an acid whose anion, or a base whose cation is generallyconsidered suitable for human consumption. Pharmaceutically acceptablesalts are particularly useful as products of the disclosed methodsbecause of their greater aqueous solubility relative to the parentcompound. For use in medicine, the salts of the disclosed compounds arenon-toxic “pharmaceutically acceptable salts.” Salts encompassed withinthe term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refer to non-toxic salts ofthe disclosed compounds which are generally prepared by reacting thefree base with a suitable organic or inorganic acid.

Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of thedisclosed compounds, when possible include those derived from inorganicacids, such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydrofluoric, boric,fluoroboric, phosphoric, metaphosphoric, nitric, carbonic, sulfonic, andsulfuric acids, and organic acids such as acetic, benzenesulfonic,benzoic, citric, ethanesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic, glycolic,isothionic, lactic, lactobionic, maleic, malic, methanesulfonic,trifluoromethanesulfonic, succinic, toluenesulfonic, tartaric, andtrifluoroacetic acids. Suitable organic acids generally include, forexample, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic, araliphatic,heterocyclylic, carboxylic, and sulfonic classes of organic acids.

Specific examples of suitable organic acids include acetate,trifluoroacetate, formate, propionate, succinate, glycolate, gluconate,digluconate, lactate, malate, tartaric acid, citrate, ascorbate,glucuronate, maleate, fumarate, pyruvate, aspartate, glutamate,benzoate, anthranilic acid, mesylate, stearate, salicylate,p-hydroxybenzoate, phenylacetate, mandelate, embonate (pamoate),methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, pantothenate,toluenesulfonate, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, sufanilate,cyclohexylaminosulfonate, algenic acid, β-hydroxybutyric acid,galactarate, galacturonate, adipate, alginate, butyrate, camphorate,camphorsulfonate, cyclopentanepropionate, dodecylsulfate,glycoheptanoate, glycerophosphate, heptanoate, hexanoate, nicotinate,2-naphthalesulfonate, oxalate, palmoate, pectinate, 3-phenylpropionate,picrate, pivalate, thiocyanate, tosylate, and undecanoate.

Furthermore, where the disclosed compounds carry an acidic moiety,suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof can include alkalimetal salts, e.g., sodium or potassium salts; alkaline earth metalsalts, e.g., copper, calcium or magnesium salts; and salts formed withsuitable organic ligands, e.g., quaternary ammonium salts. In someforms, base salts are formed from bases which form non-toxic salts,including aluminum, arginine, benzathine, choline, diethylamine,diolamine, glycine, lysine, meglumine, olamine, tromethamine and zincsalts.

Organic salts can be made from secondary, tertiary or quaternary aminesalts, such as tromethamine, diethylamine, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine,chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine, meglumine(N-methylglucamine), and procaine. Basic nitrogen-containing groups canbe quaternized with agents such as lower alkyl(C1-C6) halides (e.g.,methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl chlorides, bromides, and iodides),dialkyl sulfates (e.g., dimethyl, diethyl, dibuytl, and diamylsulfates), long chain halides (e.g., decyl, lauryl, myristyl, andstearyl chlorides, bromides, and iodides), arylalkyl halides (e.g.,benzyl and phenethyl bromides), and others. In some forms, hemisalts ofacids and bases can also be formed, for example, hemisulphate andhemicalcium salts. The disclosed compounds can exist in both unsolvatedand solvated forms. A “solvate” as used herein is a nonaqueous solutionor dispersion in which there is a noncovalent or easily dispersiblecombination between solvent and solute, or dispersion means and dispersephase.

2. General Synthetic Schemes

The compounds of the formula (I) (and other disclosed compounds), ortheir pharmaceutically acceptable salts or adducts, can be prepared bythe methods as illustrated by examples described in the “Examples”section, together with synthetic methods known in the art of organicchemistry, or modifications and derivatisations that are familiar tothose of ordinary skill in the art. The starting materials used hereinare commercially available or can be prepared by routine methods knownin the art (such as those methods disclosed in standard reference bookssuch as the Compendium of Organic Synthesis Methods, Vol. I-VI(published by Wiley-Interscience)). Preferred methods include, but arenot limited to, those described below. During any of the followingsynthetic sequences it may be necessary and/or desirable to protectsensitive or reactive groups on any of the molecules concerned. This canbe achieved by means of conventional protecting groups, such as thosedescribed in T. W. Greene, Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry, JohnWiley & Sons, 1981; T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups inOrganic Chemistry, John Wiley & Sons, 1991, T. W. Greene and P. G. M.Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry, John Wiley & Sons, 1999,and P. G. M. Wuts and T. W. Greene, Protective Groups in OrganicChemistry, John Wiley & Sons, 2006, which are hereby incorporated byreference. Isolation and purification of the products is accomplished bystandard procedures, which are known to a chemist of ordinary skill.

3. Definition of Terms

The term “alkyl” refers to a linear or branched-chain saturatedhydrocarbyl substituent (i.e., a substituent obtained from a hydrocarbonby removal of a hydrogen) containing from one to twenty carbon atoms; inone embodiment from one to twelve carbon atoms; in another embodiment,from one to ten carbon atoms; in another embodiment, from one to sixcarbon atoms; and in another embodiment, from one to four carbon atoms.Examples of such substituents include methyl, ethyl, propyl (includingn-propyl and isopropyl), butyl (including n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyland tert-butyl), pentyl, iso-amyl, hexyl and the like.

The term “alkenyl” refers to a linear or branched-chain hydrocarbylsubstituent containing one or more double bonds and from two to twentycarbon atoms; in another embodiment, from two to twelve carbon atoms; inanother embodiment, from two to six carbon atoms; and in anotherembodiment, from two to four carbon atoms. Examples of alkenyl includeethenyl (also known as vinyl), allyl, propenyl (including 1-propenyl and2-propenyl) and butenyl (including 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl and 3-butenyl).The term “alkenyl” embraces substituents having “cis” and “trans”orientations, or alternatively, “E” and “Z” orientations.

The term “benzyl” refers to methyl radical substituted with phenyl.

The term “carbocyclic ring” refers to a saturated cyclic, partiallysaturated cyclic, or aromatic ring containing from 3 to 14 carbon ringatoms (“ring atoms” are the atoms bound together to form the ring). Acarbocyclic ring typically contains from 3 to 10 carbon ring atoms.Examples include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl,cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclohexadienyl, and phenyl.A “carbocyclic ring system” alternatively may be 2 or 3 rings fusedtogether, such as naphthalenyl, tetrahydronaphthalenyl (also known as“tetralinyl”), indenyl, isoindenyl, indanyl, bicyclodecanyl,anthracenyl, phenanthrene, benzonaphthenyl (also known as “phenalenyl”),fluorenyl, and decalinyl.

The term “heterocyclic ring” refers to a saturated cyclic, partiallysaturated cyclic, or aromatic ring containing from 3 to 14 ring atoms(“ring atoms” are the atoms bound together to form the ring), in whichat least one of the ring atoms is a heteroatom that is oxygen, nitrogen,or sulfur, with the remaining ring atoms being independently selectedfrom the group consisting of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur.

The term “cycloalkyl” refers to a saturated carbocyclic substituenthaving three to fourteen carbon atoms. In one embodiment, a cycloalkylsubstituent has three to ten carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkylinclude cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl.

The term “cycloalkyl” also includes substituents that are fused to aC₆-C₁₀ aromatic ring or to a 5-10-membered heteroaromatic ring, whereina group having such a fused cycloalkyl group as a substituent is boundto a carbon atom of the cycloalkyl group. When such a fused cycloalkylgroup is substituted with one or more substituents, the one or moresubstituents, unless otherwise specified, are each bound to a carbonatom of the cycloalkyl group. The fused C₆-C₁₀ aromatic ring or to a5-10-membered heteroaromatic ring may be optionally substituted withhalogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, or ═O.

The term “cycloalkenyl” refers to a partially unsaturated carbocyclicsubstituent having three to fourteen carbon atoms, typically three toten carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkenyl include cyclobutenyl,cyclopentenyl, and cyclohexenyl.

A cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl may be a single ring, which typicallycontains from 3 to 6 ring atoms. Examples include cyclopropyl,cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexyl,cyclohexenyl, cyclohexadienyl, and phenyl. Alternatively, 2 or 3 ringsmay be fused together, such as bicyclodecanyl and decalinyl.

The term “aryl” refers to an aromatic substituent containing one ring ortwo or three fused rings. The aryl substituent may have six to eighteencarbon atoms. As an example, the aryl substituent may have six tofourteen carbon atoms. The term “aryl” may refer to substituents such asphenyl, naphthyl and anthracenyl. The term “aryl” also includessubstituents such as phenyl, naphthyl and anthracenyl that are fused toa C₄-C₁₀ carbocyclic ring, such as a C₅ or a C₆ carbocyclic ring, or toa 4-10-membered heterocyclic ring, wherein a group having such a fusedaryl group as a substituent is bound to an aromatic carbon of the arylgroup. When such a fused aryl group is substituted with one moresubstituents, the one or more substituents, unless otherwise specified,are each bound to an aromatic carbon of the fused aryl group. The fusedC₄-C₁₀ carbocyclic or 4-10-membered heterocyclic ring may be optionallysubstituted with halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, or ═O.Examples of aryl groups include accordingly phenyl, naphthalenyl,tetrahydronaphthalenyl (also known as “tetralinyl”), indenyl,isoindenyl, indanyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, benzonaphthenyl (alsoknown as “phenalenyl”), and fluorenyl.

In some instances, the number of carbon atoms in a hydrocarbylsubstituent (e.g., alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, etc.)is indicated by the prefix “C_(x)-C_(y)—,” wherein x is the minimum andy is the maximum number of carbon atoms in the substituent. Thus, forexample, “C₁-C₆-alkyl” refers to an alkyl substituent containing from 1to 6 carbon atoms. Illustrating further, C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl refers tosaturated cycloalkyl containing from 3 to 6 carbon ring atoms.

In some instances, the number of atoms in a cyclic substituentcontaining one or more heteroatoms (e.g., heteroaryl orheterocycloalkyl) is indicated by the prefix “X-Y-membered”, wherein xis the minimum and y is the maximum number of atoms forming the cyclicmoiety of the substituent. Thus, for example, 5-8-memberedheterocycloalkyl refers to a heterocycloalkyl containing from 5 to 8atoms, including one or more heteroatoms, in the cyclic moiety of theheterocycloalkyl.

The term “hydrogen” refers to hydrogen substituent, and may be depictedas —H.

The term “hydroxy” refers to —OH. When used in combination with anotherterm(s), the prefix “hydroxy” indicates that the substituent to whichthe prefix is attached is substituted with one or more hydroxysubstituents. Compounds bearing a carbon to which one or more hydroxysubstituents include, for example, alcohols, enols and phenol.

The term “hydroxyalkyl” refers to an alkyl that is substituted with atleast one hydroxy substituent. Examples of hydroxyalkyl includehydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl and hydroxybutyl.

The term “nitro” means —NO₂.

The term “cyano” (also referred to as “nitrile”)—CN.

The term “carbonyl” means —C(O)—.

The term “amino” refers to —NH₂.

The term “alkylamino” refers to an amino group, wherein at least onealkyl chain is bonded to the amino nitrogen in place of a hydrogen atom.Examples of alkylamino substituents include monoalkylamino such asmethylamino (exemplified by the formula —NH(CH₃)), and dialkylamino suchas dimethylamino.

The term “aminocarbonyl” means —C(O)—NH₂.

The term “halogen” refers to fluorine (which may be depicted as —F),chlorine (which may be depicted as —Cl), bromine (which may be depictedas —Br), or iodine (which may be depicted as —I). In one embodiment, thehalogen is chlorine. In another embodiment, the halogen is a fluorine.

The prefix “halo” indicates that the substituent to which the prefix isattached is substituted with one or more independently selected halogensubstituents. For example, haloalkyl refers to an alkyl that issubstituted with at least one halogen substituent. The term “oxo” refersto ═O.

The term “oxy” refers to an ether substituent, and may be depicted as—O—.

The term “alkoxy” refers to an alkyl linked to an oxygen, which may alsobe represented as —O—R, wherein the R represents the alkyl group.Examples of alkoxy include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy and butoxy.

The term “alkylthio” means —S-alkyl. For example, “methylthio” is—S—CH₃. Other examples of alkylthio include ethylthio, propylthio,butylthio, and hexylthio.

The term “alkylcarbonyl” means —C(O)-alkyl. Examples of alkylcarbonylinclude methylcarbonyl, propylcarbonyl, butylcarbonyl, pentylcabonyl,and hexylcarbonyl.

The term “aminoalkylcarbonyl” means —C(O)-alkyl-NH₂.

The term “alkoxycarbonyl” means —C(O)—O-alkyl. Examples ofalkoxycarbonyl include methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, prop oxyc arbonyl, butoxycarbonyl, pentoxycarbonyl, and hexyloxycarbonyl. In anotherembodiment, where the carbon atom of the carbonyl is attached to acarbon atom of a second alkyl, the resulting functional group is anester.

The terms “thio” and “thia” mean a divalent sulfur atom and such asubstituent may be depicted as —S—. For example, a thioether isrepresented as “alkyl-thio-alkyl” or, alternatively, alkyl-S-alkyl.

The term “thiol” refers to a sulfhydryl substituent, and may be depictedas —SH.

The term “thione” refers to ═S.

The term “sulfonyl” refers to —S(O)₂—. Thus, for example,“alkyl-sulfonyl-alkyl” refers to alkyl-S(O)₂-alkyl. Examples ofalkylsulfonyl include methylsulfonyl, ethylsulfonyl, and propylsulfonyl.

The term “aminosulfonyl” means —S(O)₂—NH₂.

The term “sulfinyl” or “sulfoxido” means —S(O)—. Thus, for example,“alkylsulfinylalkyl” or “alkylsulfoxidoalkyl” refers toalkyl-S(O)-alkyl. Exemplary alkylsulfonyl groups include methylsulfinyl,ethylsulfinyl, butylsulfinyl, and hexylsulfinyl.

The term “heterocycloalkyl” refers to a saturated or partially saturatedring structure containing a total of 3 to 14 ring atoms. At least one ofthe ring atoms is a heteroatom (i.e., oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur), withthe remaining ring atoms being independently selected from the groupconsisting of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. A heterocycloalkylalternatively may comprise 2 or 3 rings fused together, wherein at leastone such ring contains a heteroatom as a ring atom (e.g., nitrogen,oxygen, or sulfur). In a group that has a heterocycloalkyl substituent,the ring atom of the heterocycloalkyl substituent that is bound to thegroup may be the at least one heteroatom, or it may be a ring carbonatom, where the ring carbon atom may be in the same ring as the at leastone heteroatom or where the ring carbon atom may be in a different ringfrom the at least one heteroatom. Similarly, if the heterocycloalkylsubstituent is in turn substituted with a group or substituent, thegroup or substituent may be bound to the at least one heteroatom, or itmay be bound to a ring carbon atom, where the ring carbon atom may be inthe same ring as the at least one heteroatom or where the ring carbonatom may be in a different ring from the at least one heteroatom.

Examples of heterocycloalkyl include, but not limited to,azacyclobutane, 1,3-diazatidine, pyrrolidine, 2-pyrroline, 3-pyrroline,2-imidazoline, imidazolidine, 2-pyrazoline, pyrazolidine, piperidine,1,2-diazacyclohexane, 1,3-diazacyclohexane, 1,4-diazacyclohexane,octahydroazocine, oxacyclobutane, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran,1,2-dioxacyclohexane, 1,3-dioxacyclohexane, 1,4-dioxacyclohexane,1,3-dioxolane, thiacyclobutane, thiocyclopentane, 1,3-dithiolane,thiacyclohexane, 1,4-dithiane, 1,3-oxathialane, morpholine,1,4-thiaxane, 1,3,5-trithiane and thiomorpholine.

The term “heterocycloalkyl” also includes substituents that are fused toa C₆-C₁₀ aromatic ring or to a 5-10-membered heteroaromatic ring,wherein a group having such a fused heterocycloalkyl group as asubstituent is bound to a heteroatom of the heterocyclocalkyl group orto a carbon atom of the heterocycloalkyl group. When such a fusedheterocycloalkyl group is substituted with one more substituents, theone or more substituents, unless otherwise specified, are each bound toa heteroatom of the heterocyclocalkyl group or to a carbon atom of theheterocycloalkyl group. The fused C₆-C₁₀ aromatic ring or to a5-10-membered heteroaromatic ring may be optionally substituted withhalogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, or ═O.

The term “heteroaryl” refers to an aromatic ring structure containingfrom 5 to 14 ring atoms in which at least one of the ring atoms is aheteroatom (i.e., oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur), with the remaining ringatoms being independently selected from the group consisting of carbon,oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. A heteroaryl may be a single ring or 2 or3 fused rings. Examples of heteroaryl substituents include 6-memberedring substituents such as pyridyl, pyrazyl, pyrimidinyl, andpyridazinyl; 5-membered ring substituents such as triazolyl, imidazolyl,furanyl, thiophenyl, pyrazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, 1,2,3-,1,2,4-, 1,2,5-, or 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl and isothiazolyl; 6/5-memberedfused ring substituents such as benzothiofuranyl, isobenzothiofuranyl,benzisoxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, purinyl, and anthranilyl; and 6/6-memberedfused rings such as quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, quinazolinyl,and 1,4-benzoxazinyl. The term “heteroaryl” also includes pyridylN-oxides and groups containing a pyridine N-oxide ring.

Examples of single-ring heteroaryls include furanyl, dihydrofuranyl,tetradydrofuranyl, thiophenyl (also known as “thiofuranyl”),dihydrothiophenyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, pyrrolyl, is opyrrolyl,pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl, isoimidazolyl, imidazolinyl,imidazolidinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, triazolyl,tetrazolyl, dithiolyl, oxathiolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl,isothiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolinyl, thiazolidinyl,isothiazolidinyl, thiaediazolyl, oxathiazolyl, oxadiazolyl (includingoxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl (also known as “azoximyl”),1,2,5-oxadiazolyl (also known as “furazanyl”), or 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl),oxatriazolyl (including 1,2,3,4-oxatriazolyl or 1,2,3,5-oxatriazolyl),dioxazolyl (including 1,2,3-dioxazolyl, 1,2,4-dioxazolyl,1,3,2-dioxazolyl, or 1,3,4-dioxazolyl), oxathiazolyl, oxathiolyl,oxathiolanyl, pyranyl (including 1,2-pyranyl or 1,4-pyranyl),dihydropyranyl, pyridinyl (also known as “azinyl”), piperidinyl,diazinyl (including pyridazinyl (also known as “1,2-diazinyl”),pyrimidinyl (also known as “1,3-diazinyl” or “pyrimidyl”), or pyrazinyl(also known as “1,4-diazinyl”)), piperazinyl, triazinyl (includings-triazinyl (also known as “1,3,5-triazinyl”), as-triazinyl (also known1,2,4-triazinyl), and v-triazinyl (also known as “1,2,3-triazinyl”)),oxazinyl (including 1,2,3-oxazinyl, 1,3,2-oxazinyl, 1,3,6-oxazinyl (alsoknown as “pentoxazolyl”), 1,2,6-oxazinyl, or 1,4-oxazinyl), isoxazinyl(including o-isoxazinyl or p-isoxazinyl), oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl,oxathiazinyl (including 1,2,5-oxathiazinyl or 1,2,6-oxathiazinyl),oxadiazinyl (including 1,4,2-oxadiazinyl or 1,3,5,2-oxadiazinyl),morpholinyl, azepinyl, oxepinyl, thiepinyl, and diazepinyl.

Examples of 2-fused-ring heteroaryls include, indolizinyl, pyrindinyl,pyranopyrrolyl, 4H-quinolizinyl, purinyl, naphthyridinyl,pyridopyridinyl (including pyrido[3,4-b]-pyridinyl,pyrido[3,2-b]-pyridinyl, or pyrido[4,3-b]-pyridinyl), and pteridinyl,indolyl, isoindolyl, indoleninyl, isoindazolyl, benzazinyl,phthalazinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, benzodiazinyl, benzopyranyl,benzothiopyranyl, benzoxazolyl, indoxazinyl, anthranilyl, benzodioxolyl,benzodioxanyl, benzoxadiazolyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl,benzothienyl, isobenzothienyl, benzothiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl,benzimidazolyl, benzotriazolyl, benzoxazinyl, benzisoxazinyl, andtetrahydroisoquinolinyl.

Examples of 3-fused-ring heteroaryls or heterocycloalkyls include5,6-dihydro-4H-imidazo[4,5,1-ij]quinoline,4,5-dihydroimidazo[4,5,1-hi]indole,4,5,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5,1-jk][1]benzazepine, and dibenzofuranyl.

The term “heteroaryl” also includes substituents such as pyridyl andquinolinyl that are fused to a C₄-C₁₀ carbocyclic ring, such as a C₅ ora C₆ carbocyclic ring, or to a 4-10-membered heterocyclic ring, whereina group having such a fused aryl group as a substituent is bound to anaromatic carbon of the heteroaryl group or to a heteroatom of theheteroaryl group. When such a fused heteroaryl group is substituted withone more substituents, the one or more substituents, unless otherwisespecified, are each bound to an aromatic carbon of the heteroaryl groupor to a heteroatom of the heteroaryl group. The fused C₄-C₁₀ carbocyclicor 4-10-membered heterocyclic ring may be optionally substituted withhalogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, or ═O.

The term “ethylene” refers to the group —CH₂—CH₂— The term “ethynelene”refers to the group —CH═CH—. The term “propylene” refers to the group—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—. The term “butylene” refers to the group —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—The term “methylenoxy” refers to the group —CH₂—O— The term“methylenethioxy” refers to the group —CH₂—S— The term “methylenamino”refers to the group —CH₂—N(H)— The term “ethylenoxy” refers to the group—CH₂—CH₂—O— The term “ethylenethioxy” refers to the group —CH₂—CH₂—S—.The term “ethylenamino” refers to the group —CH₂—CH₂—N(H)—.

A substituent is “substitutable” if it comprises at least one carbon,sulfur, oxygen or nitrogen atom that is bonded to one or more hydrogenatoms. Thus, for example, hydrogen, halogen, and cyano do not fallwithin this definition. If a substituent is described as being“substituted,” a non-hydrogen substituent is in the place of a hydrogensubstituent on a carbon, oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen of the substituent.Thus, for example, a substituted alkyl substituent is an alkylsubstituent wherein at least one non-hydrogen substituent is in theplace of a hydrogen substituent on the alkyl substituent.

If a substituent is described as being “optionally substituted,” thesubstituent may be either (1) not substituted, or (2) substituted. Whena substituent is comprised of multiple moieties, unless otherwiseindicated, it is the intention for the final moiety to serve as thepoint of attachment to the remainder of the molecule. For example, in asubstituent A-B-C, moiety C is attached to the remainder of themolecule.

If substituents are described as being “independently selected” from agroup, each substituent is selected independent of the other. Eachsubstituent therefore may be identical to or different from the othersubstituent(s).

B. Pharmaceutical Compositions

Pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and/or treating a subject arefurther provided comprising a therapeutically effective amount of acompound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or adductthereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

A “pharmaceutically acceptable” excipient is one that is notbiologically or otherwise undesirable, i.e., the material can beadministered to a subject without causing any undesirable biologicaleffects or interacting in a deleterious manner with any of the othercomponents of the pharmaceutical composition in which it is contained.The carrier can be selected to minimize any degradation of the activeingredient and to minimize any adverse side effects in the subject, aswould be well known to one of skill in the art. The carrier can be asolid, a liquid, or both.

The disclosed compounds can be administered by any suitable route,preferably in the form of a pharmaceutical composition adapted to such aroute, and in a dose effective for the treatment or prevention intended.The active compounds and compositions, for example, can be administeredorally, rectally, parenterally, ocularly, inhalationaly, or topically.In particular, administration can be epicutaneous, inhalational, enema,conjunctival, eye drops, ear drops, alveolar, nasal, intranasal,vaginal, intravaginal, transvaginal, ocular, intraocular, transocular,enteral, oral, intraoral, transoral, intestinal, rectal, intrarectal,transrectal, injection, infusion, intravenous, intraarterial,intramuscular, intracerebral, intraventricular, intracerebroventricular,intracardiac, subcutaneous, intraosseous, intradermal, intrathecal,intraperitoneal, intravesical, intracavernosal, intramedullar,intraocular, intracranial, transdermal, transmucosal, transnasal,inhalational, intracisternal, epidural, peridural, intravitreal, etc.

Suitable carriers and their formulations are described in Remington: TheScience and Practice of Pharmacy (19th ed.) ed. A. R. Gennaro, MackPublishing Company, Easton, Pa., 1995. Oral administration of a soliddose form can be, for example, presented in discrete units, such as hardor soft capsules, pills, cachets, lozenges, or tablets, each containinga predetermined amount of at least one of the disclosed compound orcompositions. In some forms, the oral administration can be in a powderor granule form. In some forms, the oral dose form is sub-lingual, suchas, for example, a lozenge. In such solid dosage forms, the compounds offormula I are ordinarily combined with one or more adjuvants. Suchcapsules or tablets can contain a controlled-release formulation. In thecase of capsules, tablets, and pills, the dosage forms also can comprisebuffering agents or can be prepared with enteric coatings.

In some forms, oral administration can be in a liquid dose form. Liquiddosage forms for oral administration include, for example,pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups,and elixirs containing inert diluents commonly used in the art (e.g.,water). Such compositions also can comprise adjuvants, such as wetting,emulsifying, suspending, flavoring (e.g., sweetening), and/or perfumingagents.

In some forms, the disclosed compositions can comprise a parenteral doseform. “Parenteral administration” includes, for example, subcutaneousinjections, intravenous injections, intraperitoneally, intramuscularinjections, intrasternal injections, and infusion. Injectablepreparations (e.g., sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginoussuspensions) can be formulated according to the known art using suitabledispersing, wetting agents, and/or suspending agents. Typically, anappropriate amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is used inthe formulation to render the formulation isotonic. Examples of thepharmaceutically acceptable carrier include, but are not limited to,saline, Ringer's solution and dextrose solution. Other acceptableexcipients include, but are not limited to, thickeners, diluents,buffers, preservatives, surface active agents and the like.

Other carrier materials and modes of administration known in thepharmaceutical art can also be used. The disclosed pharmaceuticalcompositions can be prepared by any of the well-known techniques ofpharmacy, such as effective formulation and administration procedures.The above considerations in regard to effective formulations andadministration procedures are well known in the art and are described instandard textbooks. Formulation of drugs is discussed in, for example,Hoover, John E., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack PublishingCo., Easton, Pa., 1975; Liberman, et al., Eds., Pharmaceutical DosageForms, Marcel Decker, New York, N.Y., 1980; and Kibbe, et al., Eds.,Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients (3^(rd) Ed.), AmericanPharmaceutical Association, Washington, 1999.

The disclosed compounds can be used, alone or in combination with othertherapeutic agents, in the treatment or prevention of various conditionsor disease states. The administration of two or more compounds “incombination” means that the two compounds are administered closelyenough in time that the presence of one alters the biological effects ofthe other. The two or more compounds can be administered simultaneously,concurrently or sequentially.

Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amountof a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically accepted salt,solvate, clathrate, or prodrug thereof; and a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier or vehicle. These compositions may further compriseadditional agents. These compositions are useful for modulating theactivity of the neurokinin (NK₁) receptor, thus to improve theprevention and treatment of NK₁ receptor associated diseases such asnausea and vomiting, bladder dysfunction, depression or anxiety.

In some forms, disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions for preventingand/or treating a subject comprising a therapeutically effective amountof a compound according to formula (I), and one or more pharmaceuticallyacceptable excipients. In some other forms, disclosed are pharmaceuticalcompositions, further comprising one or more therapeutic agents or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some forms, saidtherapeutic agent is a 5-HT₃ antagonist, a NK₁ antagonist ordexamethasone. In some other forms, said 5-HT₃ antagonist isondansetron, palonosetron, granisetron or tropisetron, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Methods

All of the methods of the invention may be practiced with a compound ofthe invention alone, or in combination with other agents.

A. Treating

The above-described compounds and compositions are useful for theinhibition, reduction, prevention, and/or treatment of diseases whichare pathophysiologically modulated by the neurokinin (NK₁) receptor.Accordingly, in some forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/ortreating diseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁receptor, comprising administering to a subject a therapeuticallyeffective amount of a compound of formula (I) as disclosed above, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt or adduct thereof.

Suitable subjects can include mammalian subjects. Mammals include, butare not limited to, canine, feline, bovine, caprine, equine, ovine,porcine, rodents, lagomorphs, primates, and the like, and encompassmammals in utero. In some forms, humans are the subjects. Human subjectscan be of either gender and at any stage of development.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,wherein said disease is nausea and vomiting, bladder dysfunction,depression or anxiety.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,wherein said nausea and vomiting is chemotherapy induced nausea andvomiting (CINV), radiation therapy induced nausea and vomiting (RINV),or post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,wherein said nausea and vomiting is induced by moderately or highlyemetogenic chemotherapy. In some other forms, disclosed are methods ofpreventing and/or treating diseases which are pathophysiologicallymodulated by the NK₁ receptor, wherein said nausea and vomiting is anacute and/or delayed phases of CINV.

Acute emesis refers to the first twenty-four hour period following anemesis-inducing event. Delayed emesis refers to the second, third,fourth and fifth twenty-four hour periods following an emesis-inducingevent. When a treatment is said to be effective during the delayedphase, it will be understood to mean that the effectiveness of thetreatment is statistically significant during the entire delayed phase,regardless of whether the treatment is effective during any particulartwenty-four hour period of the delayed phase. It will also be understoodthat the method can be defined based upon its effectiveness during anyone of the twenty-four hour periods of the delayed phase. Thus, unlessotherwise specified, any of the methods of treating nausea and/orvomiting during the delayed phases, as described herein, could also bepracticed to treat nausea and/or vomiting during the second, third,fourth or fifth twenty-four hour periods following an emesis inducingevent, or an combination thereof.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,wherein said acute and/or delayed phases of CINV is induced bymoderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy. “Highly emetogenicchemotherapy” refers to chemotherapy having a high degree of emetogenicpotential, and includes chemotherapy based on carmustine, cisplatin,cyclophosphamide≧1500 mg/m², dacarbazine, dactinomycin, mechlorethamine,and streptozotocin. “Moderately emetogenic chemotherapy” refers tochemotherapy having a moderate degree of emetogenic potential, andincludes chemotherapy based on carboplatin, cyclophosphamide<1500 mg/m²,cytarabine>1 mg/m², daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin,ifosfamide, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin.

In a preferred embodiment, the methods of the present invention areeffective to treat acute and delayed emesis resulting from moderatelyand highly emetogenic chemotherapy, from a single dose of the netupitantderivative administered prior to chemotherapy, optionally in combinationwith other active ingredients.

A particularly preferred regimen for treating emesis, especially emesisinduced by chemotherapy, involves a netupitant derivative of the presentinvention, a 5-HT3 antagonist such as palonosetron or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof, and a corticosteroid such as dexamethasone. Asuitable fixed regimen for treating acute and delayed CINV includes asingle administration of the netupitant derivative on day one(preferably before chemotherapy), a single administration of the 5-HT3antagonist on day 1 (preferably before chemotherapy). A corticosteroidis optionally added to the combination on day one and, when highlyemetogenic chemotherapy is administered, on days 2, 3 and 4 as well. Apreferred intravenous dose of palonosetron HCl is 0.25 mg based on theweight of the free base. Preferred dexamethasone doses are 12 mg. orallyon day 1, followed by 8 mg. orally on days 2, 3 and 4 for highlyemetogenic chemotherapy.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,wherein said bladder dysfunction is selected from urgency, frequency,pollakiuria, nocturia, low deferment time, suboptimal volume threshold,and neurogenic bladder, or a combination thereof.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,wherein said compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or adductthereof, is administered by one or more routes selected from the groupconsisting of rectal, buccal, sublingual, intravenous, subcutaneous,intradermal, transdermal, intraperitoneal, oral, eye drops, parenteraland topical administration.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,wherein said administration is accomplished by intravenouslyadministering a liquid form of said compound or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt or adduct thereof.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,particularly by derivatives of netupitant, wherein said administrationis accomplished by orally administering said compound or apharmaceutically acceptable salt or adduct thereof. In some other forms,disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treating diseases which arepathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor, wherein saidnetupitant derivative is orally administered at a dosage of from about50 mg to about 500 mg, from about 100 mg to about 400 mg, from about 150mg to about 350 mg, or about 300 mg, based on the weight of thenetupitant component of the molecule.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,particularly by derivatives of netupitant, wherein said compound or apharmaceutically acceptable salt or adduct thereof is intravenouslyadministered at a dosage of from about 10 mg to about 200 mg, from about50 mg to about 150 mg, from about 75 mg to about 125 mg, or about 100mg, based on the weight of the netupitant component of the molecule.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,particularly by derivatives of netupitant, wherein said compound or apharmaceutically acceptable salt or adduct thereof, is formulated tohave a concentration of from about 1 to about 20 mg/ml, from about 5 toabout 15 mg/ml, from about 7 to about 2 mg/ml, or about 10 mg/ml, basedon the weight of the netupitant component of the molecule.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,wherein said compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or adductthereof, is administered in a single dosage per day, a single dosageduring a multi-day course of therapy (e.g., a five-day therapeuticregimen for delayed emesis), or in multiple dosages per day. In someother forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,wherein said multiple dosages are from 2 to 4 dosages per day.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,further comprising administering one or more therapeutic agents or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some other forms, saidtherapeutic agent is a 5-HT₃ antagonist, a NK₁ antagonist ordexamethasone. In some other forms, said 5-HT₃ antagonist isondansetron, palonosetron, granisetron or tropisetron, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some still other forms,said 5-HT₃ antagonist is palonosetron or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof. In some other forms, the oral dosage of palonosetron or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is from about 0.1 mg to about2.0 mg, from about 0.25 mg to about 1.0 mg, from about 0.5 mg to about0.75 mg, or about 0.5 mg. In some other forms, the intravenous dosage ofpalonosetron or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is from about0.05 mg to about 2.0 mg, from about 0.075 mg to about 1.5 mg, from about0.1 mg to about 1.0 mg, from about 0.25 mg to about 0.75 mg, or about0.25 mg. In some other forms, said palonosetron or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof is formulated to have a concentration of about0.25 mg/5 mL.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,further comprising administering one or more therapeutic agents or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein said therapeutic agentis a NK₁ antagonist which is2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethyl-N-(6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-3-yl)propanamide(netupitant). In one embodiment, the netupitant is administered incombination with GA8, and the ratio of GA8 to netupitant is greater than1:200 or 1:100.

In some other forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treatingdiseases which are pathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor,wherein the subject is a human. In some other forms, disclosed aremethods of preventing and/or treating diseases which arepathophysiologically modulated by the NK₁ receptor, wherein the subjecthas been identified as needing treatment for the disease or theadministration.

One of ordinary skill in the art of treating such diseases will be able,without undue experimentation and in reliance upon personal knowledgeand the disclosure of this application, to ascertain a therapeuticallyeffective amount of a compound of Formula I for a given disease. In someother forms, disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treating asubject, further comprising one or more therapeutic agents.

B. More Definitions of Terms

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. Thedisclosures of these publications in their entireties are herebyincorporated by reference into this application in order to more fullydescribe the state of the art to which this pertains. The referencesdisclosed are also individually and specifically incorporated byreference herein for the material contained in them that is discussed inthe sentence in which the reference is relied upon.

1. A, An, The

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a pharmaceuticalcarrier” includes mixtures of two or more such carriers, and the like.

2. Abbreviations

Abbreviations, which are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art,may be used (e.g., “h” or “hr” for hour or hours, “g” or “gm” forgram(s), “mL” for milliliters, and “rt” for room temperature, “nm” fornanometers, “M” for molar, and like abbreviations).

3. About

The term “about,” when used to modify the quantity of an ingredient in acomposition, concentrations, volumes, process temperature, process time,yields, flow rates, pressures, and like values, and ranges thereof,employed in describing the embodiments of the disclosure, refers tovariation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, throughtypical measuring and handling procedures used for making compounds,compositions, concentrates or use formulations; through inadvertenterror in these procedures; through differences in the manufacture,source, or purity of starting materials or ingredients used to carry outthe methods; and like considerations. The term “about” also encompassesamounts that differ due to aging of a composition or formulation with aparticular initial concentration or mixture, and amounts that differ dueto mixing or processing a composition or formulation with a particularinitial concentration or mixture. Whether modified by the term “about”the claims appended hereto include equivalents to these quantities.

4. Comprise

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word“comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and“comprises,” means “including but not limited to,” and is not intendedto exclude, for example, other additives, components, integers or steps.

5. Publications

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. Thedisclosures of these publications in their entireties are herebyincorporated by reference into this application in order to more fullydescribe the state of the art to which this pertains. The referencesdisclosed are also individually and specifically incorporated byreference herein for the material contained in them that is discussed inthe sentence in which the reference is relied upon.

6. Subject

As used throughout, by a “subject” is meant an individual. Thus, the“subject” can include, for example, domesticated animals, such as cats,dogs, etc., livestock (e.g., cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, etc.),laboratory animals (e.g., mouse, rabbit, rat, guinea pig, etc.) mammals,non-human mammals, primates, non-human primates, rodents, birds,reptiles, amphibians, fish, and any other animal. The subject can be amammal such as a primate or a human. The subject can also be anon-human.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinaryskill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how thecompounds, compositions, articles, devices and/or methods claimed hereinare made and evaluated, and are intended to be purely exemplary and arenot intended to limit the disclosure. Efforts have been made to ensureaccuracy with respect to numbers (e.g., amounts, temperature, etc.), butsome errors and deviations should be accounted for. Unless indicatedotherwise, parts are parts by weight, temperature is in ° C. or is atambient temperature, and pressure is at or near atmospheric.

A. Example 1

1. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (I)

The following are examples of preparation of compounds of formula (I).This example is intended to be purely exemplary and is not intended tolimit the disclosure.

General Scheme of Preparing Compounds of Formula (I)

Other general procedures of preparing similar compounds to intermediate1 of Scheme 1 are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,303,790, 6,531,597,6,297,375 and 6,479,483, the entirety of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

Synthesis ofmethyl-[6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-o-tolyl-pyridin-3-yl]-amine

Step 1:

13.0 g (82.5 mMol) 6-Chloro-nicotinic acid in 65 ml THF were cooled to0° C. and 206.3 ml (206.3 mMol) o-tolylmagnesium chloride solution (1Min THF) were added over 45 minutes. The solution obtained was furtherstirred 3 hours at 0° C. and overnight at room temperature. It wascooled to −60° C. and 103.8 ml (1.8 Mol) acetic acid were added,followed by 35 ml THF and 44.24 g (165 mMol) manganese(III) acetatedihydrate. After 30 minutes at −60° C. and one hour at room temperature,the reaction mixture was filtered and THF removed under reducedpressure. The residue was partitioned between water and dichloromethaneand extracted. The crude product was filtered on silica gel (eluent:ethyl acetate/toluene/formic acid 20:75:5) then partitioned between 200ml aqueous half-saturated sodium carbonate solution and 100 mldichloromethane. The organic phase was washed with 50 ml aqueoushalf-saturated sodium carbonate solution. The combined aqueous phaseswere acidified with 25 ml aqueous HCI 25% and extracted withdichloromethane. The organic extracts were dried (Na₂SO₄) andconcentrated under reduced pressure to yield 10.4 g (51%) of6-chloro-4-o-tolyl-nicotinic acid as a yellow foam. MS (ISN): 246 (M−H,100), 202 (M-CO₂H, 85), 166 (36).

Step 2:

To a solution of 8.0 g (32.3 mMol) 6-chloro-4-o-tolyl-nicotinic acid in48.0 ml THF were added 3.1 ml (42.0 mMol) thionylchloride and 143. mu.l(1.8 mMol) DMF. After 2 hours at 50° C., the reaction mixture was cooledto room temperature and added to a solution of 72.5 ml aqueous ammoniumhydroxide 25% and 96 ml water cooled to 0° C. After 30 minutes at 0° C.,THF was removed under reduced pressure and the aqueous layer wasextracted with ethyl acetate. Removal of the solvent yielded 7.8 g (98%)6-chloro-4-o-tolyl-nicotinamide as a beige crystalline foam. MS (ISP):247 (M+H⁺, 100).

Step 3:

1.0 g (4.05 mMol) 6-Chloro-4-o-tolyl-nicotinamide in 9.0 ml1-methyl-piperazine was heated to 100° C. for 2 hours. The excessN-methyl-piperazine was removed under high vacuum and the residue wasfiltered on silica gel (eluent: dichloromethane) to yield 1.2 g (95%)6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-o-tolyl-nicotinamide as a light yellowcrystalline foam. MS (ISP): 311 (M+H⁺, 100), 254 (62).

Step 4:

A solution of 0.2 g (0.6 mMol)6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-o-tolyl-nicotinamide in 1.0 ml methanolwas added to a solution of 103 mg (2.6 mMol) sodium hydroxide in 1.47 ml(3.2 mMol) NaOCl (13%) and heated for 2 hours at 70° C. After removal ofmethanol, the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate. Thecombined organic extracts were dried (Na₂SO₄), concentrated underreduced pressure and the residue filtered on silica gel (eluent:dichloromethane/methanol 4:1) to yield 100 mg (70%)6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-o-tolyl-pyridin-3-ylamine as a brownresin. MS (ISP): 283 (M+H⁺, 100), 226 (42).

Step 5:

2.15 ml (11.6 mMol) Sodium methoxide in methanol were added over 30minutes to a suspension of 0.85 g (4.6 mMol) N-bromosuccinimide in 5.0ml dichloromethane cooled to −5° C. The reaction mixture was stirred 16hours at −5° C. Still at this temperature, a solution of 1.0 g (3.1mMol) 6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-o-tolyl-nicotinamide in 5.0 mlmethanol was added over 20 minutes and stirred for 5 hours. 7.1 ml (7.1mMol) Aqueous HCl 1N and 20 ml dichloromethane were added. The phaseswere separated and the organic phase was washed with deionized water.The aqueous phases were extracted with dichloromethane, brought to pH=8with aqueous NaOH 1N and further extracted with dichloromethane. Thelatter organic extracts were combined, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentratedto yield 1.08 g (quant.)[6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-o-tolyl-pyridin-3-yl]-carbamic acidmethyl ester as a grey foam. MS (ISP): 341 (M+H⁺, 100), 284 (35).

Step 6:

A solution of 0.5 g (1.4 mMol)[6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-o-tolyl-pyridin-3-yl]-carbamic acidmethyl ester in 3.0 ml dichloromethane was added over 10 minutes to asolution of 1.98 ml (6.9 mMol) Red-Al® (70% in toluene) and 2.5 mltoluene (exothermic, cool with a water bath to avoid temperature togo >50° C.). The reaction mixture was stirred 2 hours at 50° C. inCH₂Cl₂, extracted with ethyl acetate and cooled to 0° C. 4 ml AqueousNaOH 1N were carefully (exothermic) added over 15 minutes, followed by20 ml ethyl acetate. The phases were separated and the aqueous phase wasextracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washedwith deionized water and brine, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated underreduced pressure to yield 0.37 g (89%)methyl-[6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-o-tolyl-pyridin-3-yl]-amine as anorange resin. MS (ISP): 297 (M+H⁺, 100).

Synthesis of 2-(3,5-bis-Trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionylChloride

15.0 g (50 mmol) 2-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionicacid were dissolved in 127.5 ml dichloromethane in the presence of 0.75ml DMF. 8.76 ml (2 eq.) Oxalyl chloride were added and after 4.5 hours,the solution was rotary evaporated to dryness. 9 ml Toluene were addedand the resulting solution was again rotary evaporated, then dried underhigh vacuum yielding 16.25 g (quant.) of2-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionyl chloride as ayellow oil of 86% purity according to HPLC analysis. NMR (250 MHz,CDCl₃): 7.86 (br s, 1H); 7.77, (br s, 2H, 3H_(arom)); 1.77 (s, 6H, 2CH₃).

Synthesis of2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethyl-N-(6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-3-yl)propanamide(Netupitant)

A solution of 20 g (67.5 mmol)methyl-[6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-o-tolyl-pyridin-3-yl]-amine and17.5 ml (101 mmol) N-ethyldiisopropylamine in 200 ml dichloromethane wascooled in an ice bath and a solution of 24 g (75mmol)-2-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionyl chloride in50 ml dichloromethane was added dropwise. The reaction mixture waswarmed to 35-40° C. for 3 h, cooled to room temperature again and wasstirred with 250 ml saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. The organiclayer was separated and the aqueous phase was extracted withdichloromethane. The combined organic layers were dried (magnesiumsulfate) and evaporated. The residue was purified by flashchromatography to give 31.6 g (81%) of2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethyl-N-(6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-3-yl)propanamideas white crystals. M.P. 155-157° C.; MS m/e (%): 579 (M+H⁺, 100).

Synthesis of5-(2-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridine1-oxide

Step 1:

The solution of 6-chloropyridin-3-amine (115 g, 0.898 mol) and (Boc)₂O(215.4 g, 0.988 mol) in 900 mL of dioxane was refluxed overnight. Theresulting solution was poured into 1500 mL of water. The resulting solidwas collected, washed with water and re-crystallized from EtOAc toafford 160 g tert-butyl (6-chloropyridin-3-yl)carbamate as a white solid(Yield: 78.2%).

Step 2:

To the solution of tert-butyl (6-chloropyridin-3-yl)carbamate (160 g,0.7 mol) in 1 L of anhydrous THF was added n-BuLi (600 mL, 1.5 mol) at−78° C. under N₂ atmosphere. After the addition was finished, thesolution was stirred at −78° C. for 30 min, and the solution of I₂(177.68 g, 0.7 mol) in 800 mL of anhydrous THF was added. Then thesolution was stirred at −78° C. for 4 hrs. TLC indicated the reactionwas over. Water was added for quench, and EtOAc was added to extracttwice. The combined organic phases were washed with brine, dried overNa₂SO₄, filtered and purified by flash chromatography to afford 80 g oftert-butyl (6-chloro-4-iodopyridin-3-yl)carbamate as a yellow solid(32.3%).

Step 3:

To the solution of tert-butyl (6-chloro-4-iodopyridin-3-yl)carbamate (61g, 0.172 mol) in 300 mL of anhydrous THF was added 60% NaH (7.6 g, 0.189mol) at 0° C. under N₂ atmosphere. After the addition was finished, thesolution was stirred for 30 min, and then the solution of MeI (26.92 g,0.189 mol) in 100 mL of dry THF was added. Then the solution was stirredat 0° C. for 3 hrs. TLC indicated the reaction was over. Water was addedfor quench, and EtOAc was added to extract twice. The combined organicphases were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered andconcentrated to afford 63 g of crude tert-butyl(6-chloro-4-iodopyridin-3-yl)(methyl)carbamate used into the followingde-protection without the further purification.

Step 4:

To the solution of tert-butyl(6-chloro-4-iodopyridin-3-yl)(methyl)carbamate (62.5 g, 0.172 mol) in500 mL of anhydrous DCM was added 180 mL of TFA. Then the solution wasstirred at room temperature for 4 hrs. Concentrated to remove thesolvent, and purified by flash chromatography to afford 45.1 g6-chloro-4-iodo-N-methylpyridin-3-amine as a yellow solid (Yield:97.3%).

Step 5:

To the solution of 6-chloro-4-iodo-N-methylpyridin-3-amine (40.3 g, 0.15mol) and 2-methylbenzene boric acid (24.5 g, 0.18 mol) in 600 mL ofanhydrous toluene was added 400 mL of 2 N aq. Na₂CO₃ solution, Pd(OAc)₂(3.36 g, 15 mmol) and PPh₃ (7.87 g, 0.03 mmol). The solution was stirredat 100° C. for 2 hrs. Cooled to room temperature, and diluted withwater. EtOAc was added to extract twice. The combined organic phaseswere washed with water and brine consecutively, dried over Na₂SO₄,concentrated and purified by flash chromatography to afford 19 g6-chloro-N-methyl-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-3-amine as a white solid (Yield:54.6%).

Step 6:

To the solution of 6-chloro-N-methyl-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-3-amine (18.87g, 81.3 mmol) and DMAP (29.8 g, 243.9 mmol) in 200 mL of anhydroustoluene was added the solution of2-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionyl chloride (28.5 g,89.4 mmol) in toluene under N₂ atmosphere. The solution was heated at120° C. for 23 hrs. Cooled to room temperature, poured into 1 L of 5%aq. NaHCO₃ solution, and extracted with EtOAc twice. The combinedorganic phases were washed by water and brine consecutively, dried overNa₂SO₄, filtered and purified by flash chromatography to afford 35 g2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N-(6-chloro-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-3-yl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamideas a white solid (Yield: 83.9%).

Step 7:

To the solution of2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N-(6-chloro-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-3-yl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamide(5.14 g, 10 mmol) in 60 mL of DCM was added m-CPBA (6.92 g, 40 mmol) at0° C. under N₂ atmosphere. Then the solution was stirred overnight atroom temperature. 1 N aq. NaOH solution was added to wash twice forremoving the excess m-CPBA and a side product. The organic phase waswashed by brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to afford5.11 g of crude5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-2-chloro-4-(o-tolyl)pyridine1-oxide as a white solid (Yield: 96.4%).

Step 8:

To the solution of crude5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-2-chloro-4-(o-tolyl)pyridine1-oxide (5.1 g, 9.62 mmol) in 80 mL of n-BuOH was addedN-methylpiperazine (7.41 g, 74.1 mmol) under N₂ atmosphere. Then thesolution was stirred at 80° C. overnight. Concentrated and purified byflash chromatography to afford 4.98 g5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridine1-oxide as a white solid (Yield: 87.2%). ¹HNMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 8.15(s, 1H), 7.93 (s, 1H), 7.78 (s, 2H), 7.38 (m, 2H), 7.28 (m, 1H), 7.17(m, 1H), 7.07 (s, 1H), 5.50 (s, 3H), 2.72 (d, J=4.4 Hz, 4H), 2.57 (m,3H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 2.23 (s, 3H), 1.45-1.20 (m, 6H).

Synthesis of4-(5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-1-oxido-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methylpiperazine1-oxide

To a solution of5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridine1-oxide (3 g, 5.05 mmol) and NaHCO₃ (0.354 g, 12.66 mmol) in 60 mL ofMeOH and 15 mL of H₂O were added potassium monopersulfate triple salt(1.62 g, 26.25 mmol) at room temperature during 15 min. After stirringfor 4 hrs at room temperature under N₂ atmosphere, the reaction mixturewas concentrated in vacuo and purified by flash chromatography (eluent:MeOH). The product was dissolved into DCM, the formed solid was filteredoff, and the solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to afford1.77 g4-(5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-1-oxido-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methylpiperazine1-oxide as a white solid (Yield: 57.4%). ¹HNMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 8.06(s, 1H), 7.78 (s, 1H), 7.60 (s, 2H), 7.37-7.20 (m, 4H), 6.81 (s, 1H),3.89 (s, 2H), 3.74 (m, 4H), 3.31 (m, 5H), 2.48 (s, 3H), 2.18 (s, 3H),1.36 (s, 6H).

Synthesis of1-(5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-4-methylpiperazine1,4-dioxide

To the solution of2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethyl-N-(6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-3-yl)propanamide(11.1 g, 19.2 mmol) in 75 ml of Methanol was added sodium bicarbonate(3.38 g, 40.3 mmol) dissolved in 20 ml of water. Then Oxone (14.75 g,48.0 mmol) was added to the stirred solution at room temperature in 3-4portions. The suspension was heated for 4 h at 50° C. After filtrationof the salts (washed with 3×8 ml of methanol), the solvent has beenevaporated under reduced pressure and substituted by DCM (30 ml). Theorganic phase was washed with water (5×30 ml), dried over Na₂SO₄,filtered, concentrated and purified by precipitation in toluene toafford 9.3 g1-(5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-4-methylpiperazine1,4-dioxide as a white solid (Yield: 80%). ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz, at333K) δ 8.27 (s, 2H), 7.75 (s, 1H), 7.63 (s, 2H), 7.26-7.19 (m, 2H),7.14 (t, 1H, J=7.4 Hz), 7.09 (d, 1H, J=7.4 Hz), 4.93 (t, 2H, J=11.6 Hz),4.70 (t, 2H, J=11.6 Hz), 4.12 (d, 2H, J=10.7 Hz), 3.84 (s, 3H), 3.50 (d,2H, J=10.3 Hz), 2.47 (s, 3H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 1.40 (s, 6H).

Synthesis of di-tert-butyl(chloromethyl)phosphate

Di-tert-butyl phosphohite (40.36 mmole) was combined with potassiumbicarbonate (24.22 mmole) in 35 ml of water. The solution was stirred inan ice bath and potassium permanganate (28.25 mmole) was added in threeequal portions over one hour's time. The reaction as then allowed tocontinue at room temperature for an additional half hour. Decolorizingcarbon (600 mg) was then incorporated as the reaction was heated to 60°C. for 15 minutes. The reaction was then vacuum filtered to remove solidmagnesium dioxide. The solid was washed several times with water. Thefiltrate was then combined with one gram of decolorizing carbon andheated at 60° C. for an additional twenty minutes. The solution wasagain filtered to yield a colorless solution, which was then evaporatedunder vacuum to afford crude Di-tert-butyl phosphate potassium salt.Di-tert-butyl phosphate potassium salt (5 g, 20.14 mmole) was dissolvedin methanol (15 g): to this solution at 0° C. a slight excess ofconcentrated HCl is slowly added with efficient stirring at 0° C. Theaddition of acid causes the precipitation of potassium chloride. Thesolid is then filtered and washed with methanol. The compound in themother liquor is then converted to the ammonium form by adding an equalmolar amount of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (3.65 g, 20.14 mmole)while keeping the reaction cooled by a salt/ice bath with efficientstirring. The resulting clear solution is placed under reduced pressureto give the crude product. To the tetramethylammoniumdi-tert-butyl-phosphate dissolved in refluxing dimethoxyethane is thenadded 4.3 grams of chloroiodomethane (24.16 mmole) and stirred for 1-2hours. The reaction is then filtered and the filtrate is placed underreduced pressure to concentrate the solution in DME. The chloromethyldi-tert-butyl phosphate 12-16% in DME is used in the synthesis of4-(5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methyl-1-((phosphonooxy)methyl)piperazin-1-iumwithout further purifications (60% yield): ^(1H)NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ1.51 (s, 12H), 5.63 (d, 2H, J=14.8). ³¹P-NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ −11.3(s, 1P).

Synthesis of4-(5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methyl-1-((phosphonooxy)methyl)piperazin-1-ium

The solution of chloromethyl di-tert-butyl phosphate in DME (250 g froma 10% solution, 96.64 mmole) was evaporated under reduced pressure untilthe formation of pale yellow oil, dissolved then at 50° C. with 318 mlof Acetonitrile. 17.2 g (80.54 mmole) of1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphtalene and 46.6 g (80.54 mmole) of2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethyl-N-(6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-3-yl)propanamidewere added and the solution heated at 90° C. for at least 12 h. Afterthe addition of 75 g of isopropylether, the precipitated crude productwas cooled at room temperature, filtered and washed with acetonitrile,isopropylether/acetone, 3:1 and isopropylether, and dried under reducedpressure to afford 20-33 g of the4-(5-{2-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-N,2-dimethylpropanamido}-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methyl-1-{[bis(tert-butoxy)phosphoryl]oxymethyl}piperazin-1-iumas white solid (Yield: 30-50%). ¹H-NMR (CD₃OD, 400 MHz) δ 7.98 (s, 1H),7.86 (s, 1H), 7.76 (s, 2H), 7.33-7.10 (m, 4H), 6.80 (s, 1H), 5.03 (d,2H, J_(PH)=8.5 Hz), 4.52 (s, 2H), 4.13 (m, 2H), 3.83 (m, 2H), 3.69 (m,2H), 3.52 (m. 2H), 3.23 (s, 3H), 2.53 (s, 3H), 2.18 (s, 3H), 1.46 (s,18H), 1.39 (s, 6H). ³¹P-NMR (CD₃OD, 161 MHz) δ −5.01 (s, 1P). To 20 g(23.89 mmole) of the4-(5-{2-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-N,2-dimethylpropanamido}-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methyl-1-{[bis(tert-butoxy)phosphoryl]oxymethyl}piperazin-1-iumdissolved in 180 g of methanol and 400 g of dichloromethane was addedHCl 4M in dioxane (18.8 g, 71.66 mmole) and the solution was heated for3 h at reflux. After the addition of 200 g of dioxane, DCM and methanolwere distilled under reduced pressure until precipitation of theproduct, which was filtered and washed with isopropylether (100 g),acetone (30 g) and pentane (2×60 g). The product was finally dried underreduced pressure at 55° C. to afford 15-17 g of4-(5-(2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethylpropanamido)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1-methyl-1-((phosphonooxy)methyl)piperazin-1-iumas white solid (Yield: 88-93%). ¹H-NMR (CD₃OD, 400 MHz) δ 7.02 (s, 1H),7.87 (s, 1H), 7.74 (s, 2H), 7.33-7.40 (m, 2H), 7.27 (m, 1H), 7.21 (s,1H), 7.16 (d, 1H, J=8.2 Hz), 5.27 (d, 2H, J_(PH)=7.9 Hz), 4.29 (m, 2H),4.05 (m, 2H), 3.85 (m, 2H), 3.74 (m, 2H), 3.35 (s, 3H), 2.62 (s, 3H),2.23 (s, 3H), 1.38 (s, 6H). ³¹P-NMR (CD₃OD, 161 MHz) δ −2.81 (t, 1P,J_(PH)=7.9 Hz).

2. Evaluation of Representative Compounds of Formula (I)

i. Chemical Stability and Solubility

The chemical stability and aqueous solubility of some representativecompounds of Formula (I), compared to some reference compounds, arereproduced in Table 1 below. Stability was tested according to ICHguidelines under accelerated conditions (40° C.).

TABLE 1 Compound Chemical Solubility No. Compound Structure Stability(neutral pH) 1

medium 10-15 mg/ml as produced in paragraph 141. 2

high >10 mg/ml 3

high >10 mg/ml 4

medium ~0.6 mg/ml  5*

medium   ~1 mg/ml 6

low N/A 7

low insoluble 8

Low insoluble  9*

0.25 *Reference Compound

ii. Local Tolerance

In contrast to netupitant, seven-day local tolerability study of threecompounds (e.g., compound nos. 1-3 of the above Table 1) on rat wasconducted. All three compounds exhibited good local tolerability whichis demonstrated by the below findings:

-   -   There were minimal signs of inflammation at injection site and        there was little edema;    -   No later stage thrombus was found in any animal studied;    -   Severity of inflammation was similar in compound and        vehicle-treated animals;    -   No tissue necrosis was observed in any of the tails; and    -   The inflammation and palethrombus were caused by the needle        injection through blood vessels.

iii. Pharmacokinetic Studies

The pharmacokinetics (PKs) study of three compounds (e.g., compound nos.1-3 of the above Table 1), as compared to a referencecompound—netupitant (orally administered), on rat and dog was conducted.

Rat PKs Study: The rats tested in the study were Wistar rats, male, bodyweight 220-240 g, and 5 rats per group. The dose was 10 mg/kgadministered by intravenous (IV) slow bolus injection into the tail veinat a rate of 1 ml/min. The dose was administered to each animal at adose volume of 5 ml/kg (the pre-formulation is 5% Glucose solution).Control animals received the vehicle alone. The dose was administered toeach animal on the basis of the most recently recorded body weight andthe volume administered was recorded for each animal Beforeadministration, rats were fasted 12 hr, water ad libitum. After 240 mintime point blood was collected, rats were fed. 0.2-0.3 ml blood wascollected in tubes contained EDTA/NaF as anticoagulant and stabilizer atpre-dose and at 0.05, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 24 and 48 hrs afterintravenous administration. After centrifugation, plasma was removed andstored deep-frozen approximately −20° C. until analysis. Preparedquantification standard curve at 2, 10, 40, 100, 200, 1000 and 2000ng/ml (diluted from methanol stock with methanol containing 1% formicacid). Aliquot 50 ul of standard solution and spiked into 50 ul of blankrat plasma samples either for standard curve or for QC samples, followedby adding 100 ul of acetonitrile (with IS). 50 ul of methanol replacedthe compound standard methanol solution was used to spike 50 ul of ratplasma samples, and added 100 ul of acetonitrile (with IS), for thedetermination of rat plasma samples. Plasma samples of time points 3, 15and 30 min after intravenous administration were diluted 10 or 5 foldwith blank rat plasma, respectively. Plasma was pre-prepared withacetonitrile using protein precipitate (PPP). Rat plasma samples wereanalyzed by using an API4000 MS coupled with HPLC. Repaglinide was usedas internal standard. Using an internal calibration method for compound1 of the above Table 1 or Netupitant quantitation, the LLOQ and thelinear range of standard curve were 2 ng/ml and 2-2000 ng/ml,respectively.

Dog PKs Study: the dogs tested in the study were Beagle dogs, bodyweight 8-10 kg, and 3 male dogs per group. The four PK experiments wereperformed in 12 naïve dogs. The dose was 3 mg/kg administered viaintravenous (IV) slow injection into the left and right cephalic or leftand right saphenous veins used in rotation. The dose volume was 2 ml/kgin glucose 5% v/v solution at a fixed injection rate of 4 ml/min usingan infusion pump (KDS 220, KD Scientific). The dose was administered toeach animal on the basis of the most recently recorded body weight andthe volume administered was recorded for each animal. Netupitant 3 mg/kgdose was tested at 2 ml/kg in vehicle (DMSO: Ethanol: Tween80solution=5:4:1:90, v/v), dependence on its solubility. Dose was freshlyprepared before each single PK experiment. Before administration, dogswere fasted 12 hr, water ad libitum. After 480 min time point blood wascollected, dogs were fed. 0.5 ml blood was collected in heparinisedtubes at pre-dose and at 2, 5, 15, 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48and 72 hr after intravenous administration. Plasma samples would be keptat −20 degree till analysis. After 2 weeks washout, the same group (IVfor Netupitant) was dosed Netupitant 3 mg/kg by gavage administration,the dose volume was 4 ml/kg in vehicle (Hypromellose 0.5%, Tween-800.1%, Sodium Chloride 0.9% in distilled water). Prepared quantificationstandard curve at 2, 10, 40, 100, 200, 1000 and 2000 ng/ml (diluted frommethanol stock with methanol containing 1% formic acid). Aliquot 50 ulof standard solution and spiked into 50 ul of blank dog plasma sampleseither for standard curve or for QC samples, followed by adding 100 ulof acetonitrile (with IS). 50 ul of methanol replaced the compoundstandard methanol solution was used to spike 50 ul of dog plasmasamples, and added 100 ul of acetonitrile (with IS), for thedetermination of dog plasma samples. Plasma samples of time points 2, 5,15 and 30 min after intravenous administration were diluted 5 or 2 foldswith blank dog plasma, respectively. Plasma was pre-prepared withacetonitrile using protein precipitate (PPP). Dog plasma samples wereanalyzed by using an API4000 MS coupled with HPLC. MRM(+) was used toscan for Netupitant and compound nos. 1-3 of the above Table 1,respectively. Repaglinide was used as internal standard.

It was found that all three compounds, when intravenously administeredat a dosage of 3 mg/kg, were efficiently converted to netupitant in ratsand dogs. It was also found that compound no. 1 is bioequivalent to oralnetupitant at the same dose in dog. The data of the comparativebioequivalence study is reproduced in below Table 2:

Table 1

TABLE 1 IV Comp. Comp. Comp. PO No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 Netupitant* Dose(mg/kg) 3 3 3 3 Dose (mg/kg, 2.31 2.84 2.84 3 equivalent to netupitant)Mean AUC_(0-t) 315627 88732 192730 307285 (ng · min/ml) Bioequivalence103 29 63 (%) *Reference Compound

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. Thedisclosures of these publications in their entireties are herebyincorporated by reference into this application in order to more fullydescribe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. It willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications andvariations can be made in the present invention without departing fromthe scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the inventionwill be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of thespecification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It isintended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplaryonly, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. The compound:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. A pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compoundaccording to claim 1, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptableexcipients.
 3. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.